Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag has revealed that Anthony Martial is in contention to make his first appearance of the season in Monday's Premier League clash with Liverpool.
The France international impressed during pre-season and had seemingly been earmarked to start the 2022-23 campaign as the team's number one centre-forward.
However, Martial was forced to sit out the clashes with Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford due to a hamstring problem.
The 26-year-old was back in training with the 20-time English champions last week, and Ten Hag has revealed that the forward is in contention to be involved against Jurgen Klopp's side.
However, Victor Lindelof remains on the sidelines through injury, while Facundo Pellistri and Brandon Williams will again be absent for the Red Devils.
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"Victor has not returned to the training pitch but the good news is that Anthony Martial is back in training with the team," Ten Hag told MUTV on Friday.
Man United are currently bottom of the Premier League table, having lost their opening two matches of the season to Brighton and Brentford.
During his pre-match press conference on Friday, Ten Hag insisted that the team must show "a fighting spirit" on the field, as the Red Devils prepare to welcome Liverpool to Old Trafford.
"I think I make myself clear. I was definitely not happy and in football you can talk about football, you can talk about planning our philosophy but the basic stuff has to be good, and that starts with the right attitude. So you need a fighting spirit on the pitch and I didn't see that from minute one," he told reporters.
"I think it's basic. You have to bring it in every game on the pitch and of course especially Monday night. But you bring it every game."
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Ten Hag has also insisted that his philosophy will not change despite the disappointing results in the early stages of the campaign.
"It [has] confirmed my philosophy," the Dutchman told MUTV. "Now we have obviously [had] a setback, but I know the reasons and we have to work on that. We will clear it. But we stick to the philosophy and the plan.
"I've seen really good things, until Atletico Madrid. After it, it's a drop. We have to turn that around quickly, but it's normal in the process. You grow and then you get a drop. But it's about keeping the right pattern and the pattern going up."
Ten Hag is believed to be giving serious consideration to dropping club captain Harry Maguire for the game against Liverpool, with Raphael Varane potentially partnering Lisandro Martinez in the middle.
Luke Shaw's position at left-back is also under threat from Tyrell Malacia, who put in a solid performance in the second half of last Saturday's 4-0 defeat to Brentford.
Matt Law
